Hanspeter Ziereisen has earned a reputation as one of Germany’s most individualistic and terroir-driven winemakers, and Hard is his standout Chardonnay - serious, structured, and unmistakably shaped by the limestone-heavy soils of southern Baden. This is Chardonnay with a Burgundian soul but a distinct Ziereisen accent: taut, mineral, and quietly powerful.
The nose opens with restrained elegance: lemon zest, green apple, crushed stone, and subtle notes of brioche and hazelnut. On the palate, Hard is firm and finely etched - medium-bodied with chiselled acidity, savoury depth, and a long, saline finish that speaks clearly of its limestone origins. Extended ageing in large neutral oak adds texture without smoothing away the wine’s natural tension.
